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Chuck Loeb: Between 2 Worlds

By Woodrow Wilkins
March 26, 2009
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A knock on smooth jazz is that it's too bland—safe for those who don't fully appreciate instrumental music, but boring to those who do. Once in a while an artist whose music fits within the format breaks from the pack. Enter guitarist Chuck Loeb.

Over the years, Loeb has associated with many across the jazz spectrum, including

Stan Getz

saxophone, tenor
1927 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Stan Getz,

Jay Beckenstein

saxophone
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Jay Beckenstein,

Michael Brecker

saxophone, tenor
1949 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Brecker and Victor Bailey. In addition to his solo career, he has been a member of Metro, Steps Ahead and The Fantasy Band. Between 2 Worlds presents Loeb with a jazz trio and a few additional players here and there throughout.

The title came about because the songs were recorded in sessions in both Europe and North America, but it is also symbolic of the bridge between smooth jazz and more adventurous music. The supporting cast includes several major session players along with his wife, Carmen Cuesta, and daughter Lizzy Loeb.

Will Lee

bass
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Will Lee plays a fretless bass melody to start "Hiram," a mellow song to honor the late guitarist

Hiram Bullock

guitar, electric
1955 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Hiram Bullock. Though Bullock thought of himself more as a rock musician, he recorded with numerous jazz artists, including Lee.

Gerald Veasley

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Gerald Veasley provides the main bass line and Cuesta injects an ethereal vocal chant while drummer

Dave Weckl

drums
b.1960

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Weckl and percussionist Barshiri Johnson help underscore Loeb's solo.

The title song again features Cuesta's airy vocal chant, but this time Wolfgang Haffner takes drum duty. Loeb and Cuesta co-wrote the song, based on a chorus she had been practicing; the vocal-guitar combination gives the song a night-on-a-moonlit-beach feel.

"Let's Play" features Loeb, Weckl and Veasley in a high-speed, straightforward jazz mood. After the opening melody and middle break, the song shifts into an ostinato passage, with Loeb and Veasley repeating the same phrase while Weckl steps outside the box and incorporates his entire drum kit.

Loeb, like many smooth jazz artists, normally records albums that are heavy on keyboards, programming and production—elements lacking on Between 2 Worlds that result in a freer, more natural sound. Cuesta and Lizzy Loeb contribute compositionally to some of the original tunes, with

Antonio Carlos Jobim

piano
1927 - 1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Antonio Carlos Jobim and

James Taylor Quartet

organ, Hammond B3

" data-original-title="" title="">James Taylor Quartet represented by one song each. Among the other artists who appear on the album are

Eric Marienthal

saxophone
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Marienthal,

Brian Culbertson

keyboards
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Brian Culbertson,

Nathan Eklund

trumpet
b.1978

" data-original-title="" title="">Nathan Eklund and

David Charles

" data-original-title="" title="">David Charles.

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Track Listing

Let��s Go; Hiram; Mittens; Between 2 Worlds; Oh No You Didn��t; Let��s Play; So Tinha De Que Ser Com Voce; The Great Hall; Mean Old Man; 360; Early Turns to Late.

Personnel

Chuck Loeb

guitar

Chuck Loeb: guitar; Carmen Cuesta: vocals (2, 4, 7); Lizzy Loeb: vocals (5); Eric Marienthal: saxophones, flute; Till Bronner: trumpet (3); Nathan Eklund: trumpet (1), trombone (1); Brian Culbertson: trombone solo (1); Pat Bergeson: harmonica (11); Will Lee: bass (1, 3, 5), fretless bass melody (2); Gerald Veasley: bass (2, 6); Dieter Ilg: bass (8-11); Dave Weckl: drums (1-3, 5-7); Wolfgang Haffner: drums (4, 8-11); Bashiri Johnson: percussion (1-3); David Charles: percussion (5, 7, 10, 11).

Album information

Title: Between 2 Worlds | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Heads Up International

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